POLITICAL leaders in Thurrock have criticised the controversial deal struck between the Conservatives and Democratic Unionist Party to create a Government following the General Election.

The deal, which comes two weeks after the election resulted in a hung Parliament, will see the 10 DUP MPs back the Tories in key Commons votes.

There will be £1bn extra for Northern Ireland over the next two years.

It has prompted calls for matching public investment in Wales and Scotland.

Thurrock Labour leader John Kent believes Thurrock residents are getting the raw end of the deal. The councillor said: “The price to tax payers in Thurrock of keeping Theresa May in Downing Street is becoming clear.

“£1bn for Northern Ireland is over £550 for every person that lives there – great for them but just think what we can do with that sort of money.

“It includes an extra £100 million to ‘address immediate pressures in health and education’. This at a time when Thurrock schools are facing an £11 million funding cut.

“In addition, there’s another £200 million for health while here in Thurrock we are short of 37 GPs and Orsett Hospital is threatened with closure. The only thing Thurrock residents will get from this deal is the bill.

“The Prime Minister needs to come clean about where this money is coming from, whether this is a one-off payment or if taxpayers will pay out time and time again, and why the people of Northern Ireland seem to be worth more to her Government than people here in Thurrock.”

Fellow Thurrock councillor and MEP Tim Aker has argued the deal puts a solid Brexit in danger.

The Ukip member said: “Theresa May’s mistakes cost the English taxpayer £1bn. She didn’t need to call this election and it shows, as I said, that she had only a half-hearted approach to Brexit. Doesn’t look very strong and stable now, does it? Her blunders handed it to Corbyn and shows the Conservatives are barely fit to govern.

“Almost all elections now rely on either Scotland, Northern Ireland and maybe Wales, in the future, giving England its orders. England voted for Brexit and now that is in danger due to Tory ineptitude, Tory-Lib-Lab-SNP Remainers and regional bargaining. English residents, let’s remember, receive thousands less per head in spending than our regional friends. Guess who gives the most in revenue?

“As this disparity grows, expect the demands for an English Parliament to deepen.

“I feel Brexit is just the beginning of seismic constituional changes in the United Kingdom. It’s time England had its own voice.”

Conservative MP Jackie Doyle-Price declined to comment on the DUP deal when approached.